AIBU to be surprised no one checked my 17yo had permission when travelling abroad without a parent?

[TeenageTravels]

We are British. My 17yo recently travelled abroad to an EU country for a holiday with another family (who live in the UK but are originally from the country they were travelling to). I sent her with a permission letter and provided my and DH's contact details and passport details and a copy of her birth certificate. She wasn't asked for any of this either in the UK or the other country, or any information about who she was travelling with or why. AIBU to be surprised by this? Obviously my daughter was completely safe but is this not a concern for trafficking or other reasons?

I think it depends on the country and also on whether they are traveling alone (preferred).

If there are signs that a child is being taken abroad against their will then I would expect something to happen - if said child is chatty, happy, engaging with the other people on her party then I’d not expect any checks to be made.

At 17, surely she's old enough to travel on her own without any adults?!

If they wouldn't be bothered if she's travelling solo, it stands to reason that they won't be bothered just because she's travelling in a group with another family?

I took my friend's 13 year old overseas last year, and no-one checked her either and that didn't surprise me.

At 17? There might be some countries where the age limit is higher, but I think in most countries including UK these requirements stop at 16.

At 17 she’s old enough to be travelling abroad with her own children…

In theory you should have a letter of approval. In practice nobody ever checks it. My son went abroad on his own with friends at 16 and the letter wasn't checked.

She's 17, not 7.

Remember you can be married at 16.
So of course people can travel at 17 without question

Not in England and Wales you can’t

DD has been to Europe alone at 16 and 17 and Asia at 17. No one asked her for anything. I think 16 is the right age so surprised at 13 yo not being asked

Thats only a recent change.
But nothing stopping them travelling to Gretna

It didn't even cross my mind when we took sons friend,aged 14 on holiday with us !

I traveled abroad without parents age 17, as did all my friends. I think some were still 16.

Nobody asked for permission letters. Why would they?

Yes. I’ve taken a ten year old not related to me on holiday and they asked him a couple of questions about where he was going etc and then didn’t quiz further. If he’d shown any uncertainty or distress I’m sure they would have, but they can’t interrogate everyone

Actually, I think they prefer it if the 17 year old is traveling alone.

If you were with older adults some countries would check to prevent trafficking.

Im not surprised.Adult passports start from age 16 after all.

Never heard of needing to give permission for a 17 year old to travel abroad. My dd went travelling with a friend round Europe at 17, didn't think anything of it. Her biggest concern was whether or not she'd get into nightclubs!

It’s weird that you think a 17yo would need permission to travel alone, that’s never been a thing. Why are parents so overprotective these days?

I'm obviously happy for her to go and do think it's entirety appropriate at her age. But I still have to give signed permission for her to go on a trip with DBS checked college teachers so the fact that she can leave the UK with non-UK nationals without permission just seemed surprising.

I lived on my own at 17. I certainly would not have been asking a parent for permission to travel.

BTW it is actually recommended to give written permission and it can be requested. That's why I wrote a letter, it's not just something I made up.

This makes sense, I guess staff will know what to look for.

I’ve taken other people’s children abroad from Italy and they needed both parents’ consent on an official police-verified document with my name, up to the age of 14. After that they were free to travel without.

One Romanian kid had free access without parental consent at 12. I insisted on a statement verified by the Romanian Embassy in Italy. Belt and braces.

They all needed valid ID or (now) passport.

And you certainly might have been refused entry to some countries then.

She thinks they might need permission because it is actually advised to give permission.